BTEC Nationals in Music and Music Technology: June 2018 update
Read the latest information on BTEC Nationals in Music and Music Technology, including key dates and news.
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2020 performance measures
DfE updated the qualifications included on performance measures in England for 2020 at the end of May. The new BTEC Nationals specifications were not included in the lists in this update and DfE have asked us to make some changes to the specifications.
We have made amendments to the BTEC National Certificate and Extended Certificate in Music Performance and resubmitted these to DfE for consideration. We expect the next update from DfE to be in July/August.
See the updated draft BTEC Nationals in Music Performance specifications
We have decided not to resubmit the Foundation Diploma and Extended Diploma for consideration on performance measures. We have decided to adjust the draft specification to change the externally assessed modules to internally assessed.The intention is also to add more Music Technology and Music Business content to the specification. We will then aim to make the specifications available for delivery from September 2018 but they will not appear on Key Stage 5 performance measures in England.
Summer 2018 results
The standards verification process has now completed the first sampling and any further samples needed will be completed within the next few weeks. You should have received notification from your SV about the result of the sampling process. You can access the SV report via Edexcel Online. We have produced a short video showing how to access your SV report.
For the external assessments from the summer series the results will be issued on Wednesday 15 August 2018 and they can be released to candidates on this day. The Principal Examiner's report for each externally assessed unit will also be published online on results day.
You can find the results for externally assessed units for your cohorts via Edexcel Online.
Enquiries about results (EAR)
If you're a centre with a concern about a student's results, you can use our post-results services. We have details about these services and their cost online.
Visit the 'Enquiries about results' pages
Access to scripts
After the summer 2018 results are published in August, centres will be able to view and download scripts which have been marked online free of charge from our Self-Service Portal via Edexcel Online.
The Self-Service Portal will be available until the final post-results deadline for each exam series:
- Wednesday 15 August - Friday 14 December
Customers should save and/or print any scripts they need for teaching and learning purposes before the post-results deadline.
Scripts do not have examiner annotation on them. The marked script allows teachers to evaluate how the student performed on particular questions in relation to what they have been taught; the Principal Examiner's Report and the exemplars that we make available demonstrate how the mark scheme is applied.
If scripts have been marked "traditionally" (i.e. not online), centres will have to request them via the Post Results section of Edexcel Online as in previous exam series.
These scripts will also be free of charge, but the final dates to request them are the same as the published JCQ Access to Scripts deadlines.
Visit the 'Access to scripts' pages
Post results fees
Details of all updated fees for our post results services from 1 August 2018 can be found online.
See 'Post results fees' from 1 August 2018
Understanding marks
Get an overview of how we mark assessments and consistently award grades that fairly reflect a learner's performance. This includes setting grade boundaries and converting raw marks to UMS.
Visit the 'Understanding marks' pages
Grade boundaries
The grade boundaries for the May 2018 exam series externally assessed units are available on Results Day on the website. Please note that the raw mark grade boundaries change from series to series.
Visit the Grade boundaries page
Grade statistics
The grade statistics for the 2017-2018 academic year are published in late October on the website. These statistics can be used for benchmarking purposes. Please note that in line with all qualifications, learner achievement is reported at qualification level and not at unit level.
Visit the Grade statistics page
Training
There are new Getting Ready to Teach events for the new BTEC Nationals in Music and BTEC Nationals in Music Technology.
Book your place on a Music training event
Book your place on a Music Technology training event
Key dates
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 30 June 2018 | Deadline for any further sampling |
| 5 July 2018 | Deadline for reporting results in order to receive certificates for August results day |
| 15 August 2018 | Results released to centres and learners |
| 20 September 2018 | EAR1, EAR2 and EAR3 deadline |
| 20 September 2018 | Access To Scripts Post Review of Marking (ATSPE) deadline |
| 27 September 2018 | Access To Scripts Original (ATSO) deadline |
| 14 December 2018 | Access To Scripts Copy (ATSC) deadline |
